We provide obituaries of the most recent deaths. An archive of obituaries can be found at Mittlestadt Funeral Home's website.
Manise "Pete" R. Erickson- January 2, 1929-February 4, 2018
Manise “Pete” R. Erickson, 89, of Lake Mills, Iowa passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt, Iowa surrounded by family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills with Pastor Melinda McCluskey officiating. A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Inurnment will be held at Salem Memorial Cemetery, rural Lake Mills. Military honors will be conducted by the Otto Chose Post #235. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, Iowa. Funeral arrangements are with Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street in Lake Mills, Iowa.
He was born on January 2, 1929 in Liberty, Wisconsin at the home of his parents, Alfred and Dora Erickson. He was united in marriage to Myrtle C. Ward on August 6, 1948. In their early married years they resided in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin where their five children were born. The family later moved to Joice, Iowa before settling in rural Lake Mills.
Pete proudly served in the U.S. Marines, stationed in California during the Korean War era. He worked in tool and die for Deluxe Products in Lake Mills and Winnebago Industries in Forest City.
Pete was an avid golfer on local courses and at Mission, Texas where they built a retirement home. Spending time with family was a much enjoyed pastime, along with, socializing with friends during daily coffee hour. Also important to him was Salem Lutheran Church where he enjoyed worship Saturday evenings.
He is survived by his children, Rob Erickson (Robin Ness) Apache Junction, AZ, Echo (Richard) Ochoa, Mason City, IA, Dawn (Kevin) Dirksen, Mason City, IA, Terry Stillings (Russell Butler), Forest City, IA, Susan (Robin) Bennett, Mason City, IA; grandchildren, Brandon and Daniel Erickson, Joshua Hagen, Matthew and Stefan Dirksen, Christopher and Brandi Oberg and Alexander and Parris Bennett and 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, Lorna Rider, Hartford, WI; sisters-in-law, Ellen Tyler and Betty Rutter along with many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his beloved cat, Mr. Paulee.
In addition to his parents, Pete was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle in 2014; brother, Barton Erickson; sister, Alfreda Carol; sisters-in-law, Mary Strauman and Florence Erickson and brothers-in-law; Kenneth Strauman, Laverne Rider, Joe Tyler and Leland Rutter.
Manise “Pete” R. Erickson, 89, of Lake Mills, Iowa passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt, Iowa surrounded by family and friends. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills with Pastor Melinda McCluskey officiating. A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Inurnment will be held at Salem Memorial Cemetery, rural Lake Mills. Military honors will be conducted by the Otto Chose Post #235. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, Iowa. Funeral arrangements are with Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street in Lake Mills, Iowa.
He was born on January 2, 1929 in Liberty, Wisconsin at the home of his parents, Alfred and Dora Erickson. He was united in marriage to Myrtle C. Ward on August 6, 1948. In their early married years they resided in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin where their five children were born. The family later moved to Joice, Iowa before settling in rural Lake Mills.
Pete proudly served in the U.S. Marines, stationed in California during the Korean War era. He worked in tool and die for Deluxe Products in Lake Mills and Winnebago Industries in Forest City.
Pete was an avid golfer on local courses and at Mission, Texas where they built a retirement home. Spending time with family was a much enjoyed pastime, along with, socializing with friends during daily coffee hour. Also important to him was Salem Lutheran Church where he enjoyed worship Saturday evenings.
He is survived by his children, Rob Erickson (Robin Ness) Apache Junction, AZ, Echo (Richard) Ochoa, Mason City, IA, Dawn (Kevin) Dirksen, Mason City, IA, Terry Stillings (Russell Butler), Forest City, IA, Susan (Robin) Bennett, Mason City, IA; grandchildren, Brandon and Daniel Erickson, Joshua Hagen, Matthew and Stefan Dirksen, Christopher and Brandi Oberg and Alexander and Parris Bennett and 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, Lorna Rider, Hartford, WI; sisters-in-law, Ellen Tyler and Betty Rutter along with many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his beloved cat, Mr. Paulee.
In addition to his parents, Pete was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle in 2014; brother, Barton Erickson; sister, Alfreda Carol; sisters-in-law, Mary Strauman and Florence Erickson and brothers-in-law; Kenneth Strauman, Laverne Rider, Joe Tyler and Leland Rutter.
Eleanor Rygh- June 3, 1925-February 8, 2018
Eleanor Rygh, age 92, of Lake Mills died at her home on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 9:00 AM on Thursday, February 8, 2018, at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills with Pastor Joel L. Guttormson officiating. Burial will be in Salem Memorial Cemetery, rural Lake Mills. Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 7, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street in Lake Mills and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
Eleanor (Reisem) Rygh was born on June 3, 1925, in Silverton, Oregon, to her parents Rev. E.L. and Olga (Halvorson) Reisem. Eleanor attended the majority of her school years in North Dakota where her father was called to serve as minister. After her father next accepted a call in Iowa, she finished her high school years in Lake Mills, graduating in 1943 as salutatorian.
Eleanor worked for the Graphic Publishing Company in high school and for a few years after and was known for her skills as a proofreader. She made lifelong friendships with some of her co-workers.
Having a father as a pastor, she learned to play the piano at a young age and was gifted with the ability to play songs simply after listening to them. It was while playing music at a funeral service that she met her future husband, James B. Rygh. The couple was wed on May 10, 1946, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They made their home in St. Louis, MO, while James finished mortuary school. They moved their family a few times throughout North Iowa, and finally back to Lake Mills in 1949. Eleanor was a devoted wife and mother, and a very proud grandma; she was extremely proud of the fact that all of her grandchildren had a college education and good jobs.
Eleanor was an active member at Salem Lutheran Church: teaching Tuesday school, Sunday school, providing music for WELCA and occasionally for Saturday night services, and serving as the president of her circle. She kept busy reading, playing board games, and watching game shows on TV…everyone knew not to call her at 4:30 because it would interrupt Jeopardy! She was a devoted St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and loved watching basketball. Eleanor also spent time playing card games like 500 and May I? with a dear group of friends in Albert Lea on a regular basis.
She will be missed by her children: Diane (David) Nall of Corwith, Jim (Deb) Rygh of Lake Mills, and Kathleen (Steven) Nelson of Lake Mills; and a daughter-in-law Amy (Roger) Olson of Lake Mills. Eleanor was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Wade Nall, Kayla (Jeremy) Walker, Mark (Kristen) Nall, Michael Rygh, David Rygh, Tony (Ashley) Nelson, Derek (Amanda) Nelson, Molly (Luke) Andrusyk, Katie Olson, and Jack Olson. Eleanor was further blessed with 10 great-grandchildren: Natalie, Levi & Blake Walker; Matthew & Marion Nall; Brynn, Brooklyn & Becca Nelson; and Tate & Nora Nelson. Eleanor is survived by a brother Richard O. Reisem of Rochester, NY; brother-in-law Keith Schaa of Homosassa, FL; and many extended relatives and beloved friends.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; husband James in 1980; son John in 1993; and 2 sisters Sharon Schaa and Phyllis Ness; and brother-in-law Allen Ness.
Eleanor Rygh, age 92, of Lake Mills died at her home on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 9:00 AM on Thursday, February 8, 2018, at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills with Pastor Joel L. Guttormson officiating. Burial will be in Salem Memorial Cemetery, rural Lake Mills. Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 7, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street in Lake Mills and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
Eleanor (Reisem) Rygh was born on June 3, 1925, in Silverton, Oregon, to her parents Rev. E.L. and Olga (Halvorson) Reisem. Eleanor attended the majority of her school years in North Dakota where her father was called to serve as minister. After her father next accepted a call in Iowa, she finished her high school years in Lake Mills, graduating in 1943 as salutatorian.
Eleanor worked for the Graphic Publishing Company in high school and for a few years after and was known for her skills as a proofreader. She made lifelong friendships with some of her co-workers.
Having a father as a pastor, she learned to play the piano at a young age and was gifted with the ability to play songs simply after listening to them. It was while playing music at a funeral service that she met her future husband, James B. Rygh. The couple was wed on May 10, 1946, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They made their home in St. Louis, MO, while James finished mortuary school. They moved their family a few times throughout North Iowa, and finally back to Lake Mills in 1949. Eleanor was a devoted wife and mother, and a very proud grandma; she was extremely proud of the fact that all of her grandchildren had a college education and good jobs.
Eleanor was an active member at Salem Lutheran Church: teaching Tuesday school, Sunday school, providing music for WELCA and occasionally for Saturday night services, and serving as the president of her circle. She kept busy reading, playing board games, and watching game shows on TV…everyone knew not to call her at 4:30 because it would interrupt Jeopardy! She was a devoted St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and loved watching basketball. Eleanor also spent time playing card games like 500 and May I? with a dear group of friends in Albert Lea on a regular basis.
She will be missed by her children: Diane (David) Nall of Corwith, Jim (Deb) Rygh of Lake Mills, and Kathleen (Steven) Nelson of Lake Mills; and a daughter-in-law Amy (Roger) Olson of Lake Mills. Eleanor was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Wade Nall, Kayla (Jeremy) Walker, Mark (Kristen) Nall, Michael Rygh, David Rygh, Tony (Ashley) Nelson, Derek (Amanda) Nelson, Molly (Luke) Andrusyk, Katie Olson, and Jack Olson. Eleanor was further blessed with 10 great-grandchildren: Natalie, Levi & Blake Walker; Matthew & Marion Nall; Brynn, Brooklyn & Becca Nelson; and Tate & Nora Nelson. Eleanor is survived by a brother Richard O. Reisem of Rochester, NY; brother-in-law Keith Schaa of Homosassa, FL; and many extended relatives and beloved friends.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; husband James in 1980; son John in 1993; and 2 sisters Sharon Schaa and Phyllis Ness; and brother-in-law Allen Ness.
